DUBLIN – The National Transport Authority (NTA) is considering revising a new BusConnects route in Dublin, the Route 80, just one month after its launch, following intense backlash from Chapelizod residents who claim the service has created commuting “chaos.”
Locals describe the new route, which replaced the previous Route 26, as a “disaster,” with journey times at rush hour allegedly taking almost as long as walking to the city centre. They report frequent delays and cancellations due to severe congestion, leaving the community of over 4,000 people feeling “stranded.”
Long Commutes and Missed Appointments
The new Route 80 runs from Liffey Valley to Rathmines. Residents claim the core problem is that the new bus path deviates from the previous service’s reliable route along the north quays. Instead, it crosses the River Liffey at Smithfield, where it regularly becomes severely delayed by congestion.
Nick Stefanvoic, a Chapelizod resident, highlighted the severe community impact:
- School and Work: Children are unable to get to school on time, forcing parents to drive and consequently arrive late for work.
- Medical Care: Young mothers with newborn babies are missing crucial hospital appointments.
- Connectivity: Commutes that once took approximately one hour are now taking close to three hours, hindering connections to services like the DART and Luas.
“The community is stranded by BusConnects,” Mr. Stefanvoic stated, adding that despite engaging with the NTA during the planning process, they have not received a response or action regarding their concerns.
Renna Nakyama, a newer resident, noted the drastic decline in reliability: “It says it’s coming in one minute and then it comes half an hour later.”
Political Action and Community Protest
The community’s frustration is heightened by the fact that frequent, more direct services to the city centre (C-spine routes) run across the bypass above the village, but pedestrians have no direct access, and a promised access ramp has not been built.
Local representatives have been inundated with complaints:
- Jen Cummins, Social Democrats TD, said she had to split a public meeting into two rooms due to the massive turnout. She has called for the NTA to find a swift and workable solution, stating BusConnects has “made life significantly harder for people.”
- Fianna Fáil TD Catherine Ardagh and Sinn Féin TD Máire Devine have also raised concerns with the Minister for Transport. Ms. Devine, who received around 150 submissions from locals, intends to present this resident feedback to the new head of the NTA and has requested that they testify before the Oireachtas Committee for Transport.
In response to the mounting crisis, locals are planning a protest in the area this weekend.
NTA Acknowledges Service Quality Issues
The National Transport Authority acknowledged that the initial quality of the service has not been as high as needed. While they claim journey times in the mornings are “broadly the same,” they admit evening journey times are “slightly longer.”
The NTA has confirmed it is working to address the issues and is considering revising the route just a month into its operation.
